Kobe Bryant: Where the Legend Can Continue to Climb in the NBA's All-Time Ranks
Italy or no Italy, season or no season, one thing is certain—Kobe Bryant has solidified his rank among the NBA's all-time greats.
There's no question his laundry list of accomplishments, iconic character and admiration from his peers gives Kobe a seat at the table with the likes of Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, Julius Erving and Michael Jordan.
This article will take a look at Kobe Bryant's standing in some of the NBA's all-time rankings and how he can continue to climb to the tops of these historic lists.
Number of NBA Championships
1 of 9Player careers can be defined by the ultimate prize: an NBA championship.
King of this mountain is the great Bill Russell. For Kobe to match Bill's total, No. 24 would have to win six straight championships by the time he reaches 39.
For a little perspective, the oldest guards to play in the modern game were John Stockton (41 years old), John Long (40 years old) and His Airness, Michael Jordan (40 years old).
Kobe Bryant is 33 years old.
Overtaking Russell is unlikely, but with the proven core of Lakers currently assembled, hopping a few spots north on the list is entirely possible.
| Rank | Player | Rings |
| 1 | Bill Russell | 11 |
| 2 | Sam Jones | 10 |
| 3 | Tom Heinsohn | 8 |
| 3 | KC Jones | 8 |
| 3 | Satch Sanders | 8 |
| 3 | John Havlicek | 8 |
| 4 | Jim Loscutoff | 7 |
| 4 | Frank Ramsey | 7 |
| 4 | Robert Horry | 7 |
| 5 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 6 |
| 5 | Michael Jordan | 6 |
| 5 | Scottie Pippen | 6 |
| 5 | Bob Cousy | 6 |
| 6 | Kobe Bryant | 5 |
| 6 | Derek Fisher | 5 |
Number of NBA Finals MVP Awards
2 of 9Aptly named the Bill Russell Award, an NBA Finals MVP trophy is given to the most dominant player in the NBA Finals.
During the Lakers' three-peat of 2000-2002, Kobe's running mate Shaquille O'Neal cleaned up this award three years straight. And for good reason—he was by far the most dominant player in each of these NBA Finals.
Once Diesel left the picture, the next two NBA Finals MVP awards went to Kobe Bryant. And as leader of this current Lakers squad, it's safe to assume that any trip to the championship promised land would bring Kobe Bryant—the best closer in the game—another MVP trophy.
Note: The NBA Finals MVP award was created in 1969 shortly after Bill Russell's amazing championship run, hence his absence from the list but recognition in award naming rights.
| Rank | Player | Finals MVP |
| 1 | Michael Jordan | 6 |
| 2 | Magic Johnson | 3 |
| 2 | Shaquille O'Neal | 3 |
| 2 | Tim Duncan | 3 |
| 3 | Kobe Bryant | 2 |
| 3 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 2 |
| 3 | Hakeen Olajuwon | 2 |
| 3 | Larry Bird | 2 |
| 3 | Willis Reed | 2 |
Number of NBA Finals Appearances
3 of 9Even though players would much rather achieve the ultimate glory of an NBA championship, it's still quite an accomplishment to win your division and earn a spot in the NBA Finals.
Winning the Western Conference is certainly possible if the Lakers make a few key adjustments offensively and embrace a new Mike Brown-inspired defensive philosophy.
The Lakers will have steep competition from conference stalwarts San Antonio, Dallas and Portland as well as up-and-coming Oklahoma City and Memphis, but winning the West for the next few years is still within reach.
| Rank | Player | Finals Appearances |
| 1 | Bill Russell | 12 |
| 2 | Sam Jones | 11 |
| 3 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 10 |
| 4 | Jerry West | 9 |
| 4 | Magic Johnson | 9 |
| 4 | Tom Heinsohn | 9 |
| 5 | Elgin Baylor | 8 |
| 5 | Frank Ramsey | 8 |
| 5 | John Havlicek | 8 |
| 5 | KC Jones | 8 |
| 5 | Michael Cooper | 8 |
| 5 | Tom Sanders | 8 |
| 6 | Kobe Bryant | 7 |
| 6 | Derek Fisher | 7 |
All-Time Career Points
4 of 9Last season, Kobe Bryant marched steadily through the ranks of the NBA's all-time scoring leaders, eclipsing Hakeem Olajuwon, Moses Malone and Elvin Hayes to settle at sixth place.
Mamba proved he can still score at will—inside, outside, through the lane, post, turnaround jump shots.
Despite decreasing his penetration to the basket, Mamba's outside shot is deadlier than ever and can help him pass Shaquille O'Neal in one more season of work and Wilt Chamberlain in two.
| Rank | Player | Points |
| 1 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 38,387 |
| 2 | Karl Malone | 36,928 |
| 3 | Michael Jordan | 32,292 |
| 4 | Wilt Chamberlain | 31,419 |
| 5 | Shaquille O'Neal | 28,596 |
| 6 | Kobe Bryant | 27,868 |
| 7 | Moses Malone | 27,409 |
| 8 | Elvin Hayes | 27,313 |
| 9 | Hakeem Olajuwon | 26,946 |
| 10 | Oscar Robertson | 26,710 |
Number of NBA MVP Awards
5 of 9The NBA MVP award represents many things—the best in breed, the most valuable asset to a team's success and a "career accomplishment" award.
Kobe received his NBA MVP award in 2008 under the "career accomplishment" handle even though he should have won the award earlier during these Smush Parker, Luke Walton and Kwame Brown years.
Nevertheless, now that his "career accomplishment" award is out of the way, Mamba will likely have to lead the league in scoring and command the entire Lakers offense to repeat as MVP.
The onset of Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol as scoring threats makes this scenario unlikely, but one never knows.
| Rank | Player | NBA MVP |
| 1 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 6 |
| 2 | Bill Russell | 5 |
| 2 | Michael Jordan | 5 |
| 3 | Wilt Chamberlain | 4 |
| 4 | Magic Johnson | 3 |
| 4 | Larry Bird | 3 |
| 4 | Moses Malone | 3 |
| 5 | Tim Duncan | 2 |
| 5 | LeBron James | 2 |
| 5 | Karl Malone | 2 |
| 5 | Steve Nash | 2 |
| 5 | Bob Pettit | 2 |
| 6 | Kobe Bryant | 1 |
| 6 | Shaquille O'Neal | 1 |
| 6 | Oscar Robertson | 1 |
Most Points in a Game
6 of 9For those who witnessed Kobe's magical 81 point night versus the Toronto Raptors, it was a scoring feat in the modern game that may never be repeated.
Wilt Chamberlain notched a ridiculous six of the top 10 scoring performances in an era when Wilt could play volleyball around the rim and clean up every missed shot.
The only other representative from the modern game on the list is David Robinson, who put up 71 against a lowly Clippers squad in 1994. It's safe to assume we may never see another 80-point game in our lifetimes.
But if anyone can outdo Kobe, it's Kobe.
| Rank | Player | Date | Points |
| 1 | Wilt Chamberlain | 3/2/1962 | 100 |
| 2 | Kobe Bryant | 1/22/2006 | 81 |
| 3 | Wilt Chamberlain | 12/8/1961 | 78 |
| 4 | David Thompson | 4/9/1978 | 73 |
| 4 | Wilt Chamberlain | 11/16/1962 | 73 |
| 4 | Wilt Chamberlain | 1/13/1962 | 73 |
| 5 | Wilt Chamberlain | 11/3/1962 | 72 |
| 6 | Elgin Baylor | 11/15/1960 | 71 |
| 6 | David Robinson | 4/24/1994 | 71 |
| 7 | Wilt Chamberlain | 3/10/1963 | 70 |
Number of All-Star Appearances
7 of 9Climbing up the ranks of All-Star appearances will be a virtual lock for No. 24.
So long as Kobe continues to play basketball, he will be nominated as an All-Star every year well into his late 30's.
Starting lineups are determined by the fans. And love him or hate him, the fans want to see Kobe Bryant play.
In three more years, No. 24 will pass recently retired Shaquille O'Neal on this list, which I assume serves as motivation for Bryant given the public fallout and animosity shared between the two.
| Rank | Player | No. of All-Star |
| 1 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 19 |
| 2 | Shaquille O'Neal | 15 |
| 3 | Michael Jordan | 14 |
| 3 | Jerry West | 14 |
| 3 | Karl Malone | 14 |
| 3 | Kevin Garnett | 14 |
| 4 | Kobe Bryant | 13 |
| 4 | Wilt Chamberlain | 13 |
| 4 | Bob Cousy | 13 |
| 4 | Tim Duncan | 13 |
| 4 | John Havlicek | 13 |
| 5 | Magic Johnson | 12 |
| 5 | Larry Bird | 12 |
Number of First-Team All-NBA Honors
8 of 9The All-NBA team is voted on by a panel of North American sportswriters and broadcasters. Players receive points for different team honors (five points for first-team, four points for second-team, etc.) and points are tallied to determine each player's team ranking.
Last season, Kobe Bryant received All-NBA first team honors for the ninth time in his career.
Should Kobe produce at the same output as last season, he has a fair chance to gain more first team honors in the future.
| Rank | Player | All-NBA First Team |
| 1 | Karl Malone | 11 |
| 2 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 10 |
| 2 | Michael Jordan | 10 |
| 2 | Jerry West | 10 |
| 2 | Bob Cousy | 10 |
| 2 | Elgin Baylor | 10 |
| 2 | Bob Pettit | 10 |
| 3 | Kobe Bryant | 9 |
| 3 | Tim Duncan | 9 |
| 3 | Oscar Robertson | 9 |
| 3 | Larry Bird | 9 |
| 3 | Magic Johnson | 9 |
Will Kobe Continue to Climb the All-Time Ranks?
9 of 9Can the Mamba continue on this path of excellence and climb the NBA's all-time ranks?
In a word—absolutely. But he may need some help along the way.
The Lakers seemed to have lost their identity at season's end and will have to find a new one under the watch of Lakers head coach Mike Brown.
Fortunately, the Lakers Twin Towers, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, appear to be stepping into a larger offensive role, which will help relieve Kobe from being the team's bulk scoring producer and help extend his playing days.
And the Lakers should likely improve their perimeter defense next season given Brown's defensive credentials—good news for a team that got exposed defensively in last season's playoffs.
So once our beloved labor dispute is resolved and business resumes on the hard court, expect Kobe to pick up where he left off and continue his meteoric ascent through the NBA's all-time ranks.
Appreciate the time we now share with No. 24. because—as eloquently expressed in this piece of poetry—we'll miss him when he's gone.
